Page 42 of Dancing With Delusion

He gets in and starts the engine. “You’re mad at me,” I state.

He glances in the rearview mirror. “I thought we were past hide and seek. You remember what happened to me last time, right?” He puts the car in gear and drives towards the gates.

“I was out of order,” I admit, “but I did stand up for you when I called Dmitry. I told him I’d leave him if he touched a hair on your head.”

“And you think he’d listen to that?” he asks, arching a brow with a doubtful expression. “Do you even know him at all?”

I’m hurt by his words. I think I know Dmitry better than anyone. “He won’t hurt you again.”

“You’re an idiot if you believe that.”

“Look, I don’t apologise often, Marshall, but I am sorry. I had to get away yesterday. Sometimes he’s just . . . full on.”

“They’re talking about you,” he mutters.

“Who?”

“His men.” He sighs. “You didn’t hear it from me, and I’ll deny it if you tell anyone, but they’re all saying you’re crazy. You’re distracting the boss. You’re becoming a problem.”

“I’m not crazy,” I mumble, staring out the window.

“Then stop giving them reasons to think you are, Tori.”

“Do you think I’m mad?” I ask, feeling nervous for his answer.

“No,” he admits, “but I’m serious. You have to stop reacting to Vivian’s bullshit. I don’t know who sent you a picture, but whoever it was wants to come between you, and you’re letting them.”

“You believe me?” I ask, almost smiling.

“Always,” he confirms. We exchange a knowing look in the mirror. The fact he believes me makes me feel better. He’s on my side.

I arch a brow at Harriet. “Haven’t you ever been jealous?” I ask. “I admit it gets the better of me, and sometimes I get ideas that I think are funny when everyone around me doesn’t see them like that, but I don’t think that’s grounds to call me crazy.”

“That’s not what I’m saying,” she reassures me. “But with all the signs you’re displaying, it fits with my diagnosis of personality disorder.”

I snatch the script from the table and stare at it. “And you think these will help?” She gives a nod. “Will they make me boring?”

She almost smiles. “In what way?”

“Every way. Dmitry noticed me because of my crazy behaviour, and now, you’re saying I have to put a stop to it. What if he doesn’t like the new me?”

She gives a reassuring smile. “I don’t think you’ll notice a difference. And if Dmitry likes you, he’ll want you to get well.”

When I get back in the car, I hand the script to Marshall. “She recommends these,” I tell him.

He stares at it. “Really? Xanax?”

I shrug. “According to her, it’ll curb my crazy impulses. Then maybe Dmitry’s men will stop thinking I’m nuts.”

He twists in the front seat to look at me. “And you’re alright with this?”

I give a nod, even though inside I’m not sure at all. “Just make me a promise,” I tell him.

“Anything.”

“If these pills make me . . . weird, take me off them.”

“Tori, that’ll be down to Dmitry, not me.”

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